Wild food and useful plants
PSYCHOTRIA LONCEROIDES
Hairy Psychotria Eastern Aus Endemic
Interesting rust-coloured hairs on foliage, clusters of white flowers in February/April the creamy/yellow berries in March/August which are edible and can sometimes be sweet but if grown in poor conditions fruit hairs can irritate the throat. Understory shrub that grows on the borders of rainforest and other more open woodland types such as wet eucalyptus forest
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Small Shrub
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H 1- 2.5m – W 0.5m
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Prefers well-drained, rich loam, moist soils
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Can grow on the coast in sandy soil mixes
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Prefers a shady filtered light position
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Hardy, salt tolerant grows in coastal areas
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Bird and bee attracting
ALPINIA CAERULA
Native Ginger Gosford to rest of QLD Endemic
This subtropical species and (tropical subspecies with red underleaf) grows from underground rhizomes which are edible. It has lush green foliage. The Centre of new shoots have a ginger flavour and rhizomes can be cooked or eaten fresh. Flowers in summer followed by blue berries
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Ground cover herb
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H 1m – W 2m
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Prefers well-drained moist soil types, mulch
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Does better in light shade to shaded positions
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Does not like frost and prefers a sheltered position
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New leaf shoots berries and rhizomes are edible
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Attracts various bees, birds and butterflies
SYZYGIUM LUEHMANNI
Riberry Eastern CNSW QLD Endemic
A medium sized ornamental rainforest tree with glossy green foliage that can be used for hedging, shade and for screening and wind breaks. It has large decorative pink to red fruit that can be eaten straight from the plant as well as made into jams and condiments and is attractive to birds.
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Tree, great hedge plant
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In good conditions H 10m – W 1- 2m
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Well-drained to moist, sandy, sandy loam, loam, clay loam, saline, poor soil
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Low maintenance, erosion control, bird habitat, fast-growing, fauna attracting
PASSIFLORA AURANTIA
Red Passionfruit New Caledonia and Australia
Attractive hardy tendril climber with green foliage & 10cm diameter flowers that open for one day, changing from cream buds to bright red. Green fruit.
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Vine
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Size: H 0.5m – 1m W 0.5m – 1m slender
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Full sun, part shade, partial shade
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Soil: Adaptable
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Wildlife attracting, host to Glasswing butterfly. Blue-tongue Lizards dine on fallen fruit
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Fruit is edible, but nothing like “normal” passionfruit!
MELALEUCA PACHYPHYLLA
Wallum Bottlebrush Coastal NSW & SEQLD Endemic
This attractive miniature water-loving and coastal flowering bottle brush with papery bark has tough leaves to enable it to be drought tolerant.
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Small Shrub, fire tolerant, responds well to pruning
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H 3m – 0.5 - 1m depending on age
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Loves sandy, poorly drained soil
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Can make a sweet drink by dipping and soaking the flowers in water. Bird attracting
DIANELLA LONGIFOLIA
Native Blueberry Eastern Aus Endemic
Pale Flax Lily produces edible blue berries with tiny, nutty seeds, and firm, strappy leaves that were traditionally used for cord and string.
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Clumping strappy leaved, Ground cover suitable pot plant, edible fruits eat in low moderation
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H 0.5 m with longer flower – 1m
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Well-drained, sandy loam, clay loam, poor soil.
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Low maintenance, does better in part shade
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Indigenous peoples used for making plaited baskets and roots boiled & drunk as medicine.
CALLICARPA PEDUNCULATUM
Velvet Leaf NNSW and QLD Endemic
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This highly ornamental small to medium shrub makes a great plant for a variety of uses, reaching up to 2m with dense soft green foliage, the flowers and brightly coloured fruits adds to its appeal. Flowers through Summer with cascades of purple, pink and white flowers, followed by clusters of purple fruits.
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Shrub, habitat for small birds, edible fruits
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H 1- 3m – 0.5 - 1m
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Diverse range of soils from clay, sandy, loams to clay
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Does better in sunny light shade positions
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Attracts various bees, birds and butterflies
HIBISCUS HETEROPHYLLUS
Native Hibiscus Eastern Aus Endemic
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The native Rosella is a beautiful fast-growing shrub with an open growth habit and plenty of showy flowers all summer. The new shoots of leaves can be eaten and has a zesty tart flavour perfect to add a zang to salads.
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Shrub, fast growing, and ideal container plant (keep moist)
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H 2 - 5m – 0.8 – 1.3m
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Tolerates a diverse range of soils but prefers well drained
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Petals and new shoots can be eaten
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This is a prickly plant that is insect attracting and is a great species for birds
RUBUS MOLUCANNUS
Native Raspberry East coast Aus
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A scrambling shrub or climber bearing white rose-like flowers and red aggregate edible fruit from Spring to Summer. Very hardy but may become invasive. Fruit is bush tucker and makes a nice jam.
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Vine slow growing from seed, containers
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H 10m forms thickets must be cut back once a yr
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Lives in variety of soils from sandy to clay
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Does better in partial shade or filtered light positions
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Hardy plant with edible fruits, pink flower variety
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Bird attracting
PITTOSPORUM agustifolium
Gumbi Gumbi Wide distribution in every state
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This drought-hardy tree is widespread throughout inland Australia. The plant featured widely in Aboriginal bush medicine as a treatment for coughs, colds and eczema, and to induce lactation. Tea, often touted for its health benefits, is a more common and preferred use of this plant today. Both fresh and dried, the plant’s slender leaves may be steeped in hot water to make a flavoursome, aromatic brew.
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Shrub useful for shade, hedging and habitat
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H 4-8m - 2 m W 3 - 5m
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Variable soils from clay to well drained
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Used as a medicinal plant and made into a tea
MICROCITRUS AUSTRALASICA
finger Lime SEQLD and NNSW Endemic
This beautiful native lime is a very popular edible and butterfly host plant
to the large Orchard swallowtail.
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Large Shrub very slow growing
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H - 1-3m – W 0.5-1m
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Well-drained to moist, likes organic soils, loves to be mulched
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Edible fruit
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Bird and Swallowtail attracting
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Prefers a sheltered shady or partial sun position
SOLANUM AVICULARE
Kangaroo Apple East coast AUS
The kangaroo apple is a beautiful large leaved purple flowering shrub of the nightshade family. It flower sporadically and in spring and summer its fruits taste quite like a sweet tomato and I feel would be very suitable in savoury dishes.
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Small to medium shrub fast growing
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Size: H 2m – W 0.5m
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Well drained moist soils
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Edible fruit, poisonous when not fully ripe which is when they are deepest red.
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Bird attracting
CURCUMA AUSTRALASICA
Native Tumeric NQLD
Also known as the cape york lilly this deciduous strappy large leaved ground cover which bears ginger-like pink, white and yellow flowers in summer and has edible rhizomes which were traditionally roasted and then eaten.
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Clumping tropical deciduous herb
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H 1m – 3m W 0.5 - 1m
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Loves sandy, sandy loam or clay loam neutral Ph soils
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Can make a sweet drink by dipping and soaking the flowers in water. Bird attracting
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Prefers a light to part shade position
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Edible rhizomes
BREYNIA OBLONGIFOLIA
Coffee Bush East coast AUS
This very ornamental shrub is found growing in wet gullies, moist woodlands or eucalyptus forest and in rainforest margins. Bearing bright red bird attracting fruit summer to autumn.
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Pioneer and fast growing Small shrub
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Size: H 0.5m – 1m W 0.5m – 1m slender
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Adaptable to different soil types but prefers well drained and well watered
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Great hedging plant responds well to pruning or grows upright and slender
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Important insect and butterfly host plant
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Edible fruit
